Set in the mountains of Megève, the interiors of luxury ski lodge Le Chalet Zannier are rustic but refined and have everything we could wish for: a spoiling spa, Alpine views from the balconies and roaring fires throughout. After days zipping down the slopes, return to the fireside and cosy up under a warm blanket with a glass of wine and pastry in hand. Spend the few hours between aprés ski and pre-dinner drinks in the spa: unwind in the sauna, relax in the heated pool or, if you went all out on the pistes, organise a pampering massage. Dinner is an all-French affair with seasonal menus showcasing the Savoie’s finest fare. Whether you’ve opted for a cosy double room or one of the expansive apartment-style suites, you’ll sleep soundly on your king-size bed, waking well-rested ready to ski, spa, sip wine and repeat.

At the hotel

Our favourite rooms

Enjoy the suite life in Suites 1, 2, 3 or 4. Each is unique, though all boast huge wood-burning fireplaces ideal for cosy evenings in. You can enjoy snowy vistas from the comfort of your king-size bed if you stay in Suites 1 or 2; the former is the largest room in the hotel and has two bedrooms making it the perfect fit for families.

Poolside

There’s an indoor relaxation pool in the spa. It’s a gloriously child-free spot for leisurely muscle-relaxing soaks in the warm water – no neon floats in sight.

Spa

The luxury spa is a serene over-16s only space with a hammam, sauna and two treatment rooms for après ski massages, firming body scrubs, relaxing aromatherapy rituals, rejuvenating facials and an array of beauty treatments.

Packing tips

Layer up with stylish thermals, cashmere jumpers, a cosy gilet and Sorel boots.

Also

Without a lift, the hotel isn’t ideal for guests with limited mobility.

Pet&dash;friendly

Children

All ages are welcome, but kids aren’t especially catered to. Babysitting can be arranged with 12 hours notice (€25 an hour) and the hotel has baby monitors and highchairs if you need them. Baby cots (free for under-threes) can be added to all rooms.

Food and Drink

Top Table

Take one of the tables at the back of the restaurant for mountain views during dinner.

Dress Code

Keep cosy with warm winter jumpers and a pair of woollen socks under your boots.

Hotel restaurant

A homage to Alpine appetites, chef Julien Burlat uses only the finest French products from the surrounding countryside for his seasonal menus at La Ferme de mon Père. Like the rest of the hotel, the restaurant has a rustic charm with panelled walls and wooden furnishings draped in simple linens, although it’s undeniably chic and sophisticated. Fervently French dishes include liquorice-flavoured frog’s legs, pâté en croûte and rib steak with gratin dauphinois, spinach with hazelnut butter. These of course should be followed by the cheese platter or the blood orange parfait with red fruits, ginger and a warm madeleine with honey. For dinner and a spirited show, order the rum baba dessert which is assembled at your table.

Hotel bar

Take a stool at the bar, or a fireside sofa and peruse the bar’s carefully selected list of wine at leisure. As well as offering fine vintages from country’s top estates, Le Chalet Zannier’s mixologists are skilled with a shaker and will mix up classic cocktails as you like them.

Last orders

Breakfast is served 7am till 11am and dinner is from 7pm to 10pm. The bar is open from 11am till midnight.

Room service

The restaurant menu is available while the kitchen is open, plus there are a few classic room service favourites on offer like club sandwiches, burgers, and sharing plates of cheese and charcuterie. You can also order drinks from the wine bar.

Location

Address

Le Chalet Zannier

367 Route du Crêt

Megève

74120

France

Le Chalet Zannier is set slopeside in the French ski resort of Megève.

Planes

Fly direct to Geneva airport from London and cities across European and the US. Our Smith24 team of travel experts are on hand round the clock to book your flights, if needed. Transfers take around 85 minutes and one-way transfers cost €275 for up to two guests, or €330 for three or more guests.

Trains

Sallanches train station is a 20-minute drive from the hotel. Paris is just under five hours away, Lyon is a three-hour journey away and Geneva is a two-and-a-half-hour ride away. Transfers from the station cost €90 for three or fewer guests and €105 for more

Automobiles

You won’t need a car while staying here: the hotel has a chauffeur service available from 7am till midnight. If you do decide to drive to Megève, there’s valet parking at the hotel (free for outside parking or €20 a day for indoor spaces).

Other

For a swifter transfer, ask our Smith24 team to arrange a helicopter from the airport to the hotel.

Worth getting out of bed for

Only open in the winter months, skiing or snowboarding are obvious outdoor pursuits during your stay. The team at the hotel can arrange lift passes, lessons, guides and all the gear you’ll need to hit the slopes. If the ski lifts don’t go high enough for you. or you’re eager to carve new tracks off piste, the area is renowned for its exceptional heli-skiing, and our Smith24 will happily arrange a trip or two for you. Although skiing is the main attraction of the area, there’s more to Megève than just en-piste activities. Go snowshoe trekking and husky-sledding through Alpine forests, ice-skating followed by a chocolat (or vin) chaud in the town centre, or take in the view from above paragliding over the mountain tops.

Local restaurants

A ski trip isn’t complete without a fondue or two. Offering a contemporary take on traditional all-wood lodges, Chamois is full of wool-topped benches and booths, ideal for snuggling close while sharing a fondue; we recommend dipping between the truffle and morilles options. Set in a secluded spot up in the mountains, Flocons de Sel is a refined restaurant toting not one but three Michelin stars restaurant. Headed by chef Emmanuel Renaut, their seasonal cuisine is as subtle as it is inventive; every aspect of the dining experience is considered, from textures and smells, to careful wine pairings to enhance flavour. If you fancy a day off piste, the chefs here host day-long cooking courses. Another reclusive restaurant in the mountains, Le Refuge is a proudly Savoie eatery showcasing traditional local architecture and fare alike. Tuck into péla (a gratin made with fried potatoes and Reblochon cheese), followed by caramelised-veal sweetbreads with pumpkin purée, chestnuts, and an onion and tonka beans jus, then finish with a grand marnier soufflé.

Local cafés

Set in the centre of Megève, lodge-like Le Torrent is traditional in style with wood-panelled walls and wooden chairs covered with a sheepskin throws. While waiting for your wild trout or meaty farcement with monkfish and bacon, peruse the collection of antique ski gear adorning the walls. A sophisticated choice for aprés ski tea, those with a sweet tooth should head to Ladurée to sample your way through the famous French pâtissierie’s colourful selection of macarons. For more sweet treats head to Chez Maria for Maria’s signature square crêpes covered in nutella, cream, fresh fruit, cheese, ham…

Local bars

M’s Bar has a unique mix of traditional chalet-style architecture, sleek contemporary lighting and the odd industrial accent. The star of their long drinks list has to be Le ‘M’ojito; a warm, ski slope-friendly counterpart to the traditional rum and mint-flavoured summer cocktail. With log-lined walls, taxidermied deer heads above enormous fireplaces, tartan curtains and antler-made chairs, The Lodge Bar is as cosy as they come. The fireside sofas are ideal spots to snuggle up after a day on the slopes, though in the summer the lush gardens are equally as appealing. Each drink is served in a particular glass, themed to suit the spirit within.

Reviews

Anonymous review

Every hotel featured is visited personally by members of our team, given the Smith seal of approval, and then anonymously reviewed. As soon as our reviewers have returned from this sleek piste hotel in Savoie and unpacked their skis and aprés attire, a full account of their winter break will be with you. In the meantime, to whet your wanderlust, here's a quick peek inside Le Chalet Zannier in Megève…

With elegantly understated Alpine interiors, ski hotel Le Chalet Zannier in Megève is our luxury lodge of choice for the next season. Unlike many of the well-known ski resorts in the French Alps, Megève has managed to avoid the takeover of generic ski resort bars and big name designer shops, which means you’ll have the chance to sample real Savoie fare during your stay. Zannier’s restaurant is the place to start, with chef Julien Burlat rustling up French favourites with locally-grown ingredients for his seasonal menu; your foie gras, wild trout and blood orange parfait should of course be washed down with a few carefully-paired glasses of wines from the hotel’s extensive cellars. Well fed and watered, spend the evening cuddled-up around the roaring fire, then head to bed to ensure a good night’s sleep before hitting the slopes tomorrow. Days of heli-skiing in the mountains and husky-sledding through the forests are followed by tea on Zannier’s mountain-view balconies and a few hours in their spa which offers specially designed treatments for aprés ski pampering that’ll leave you ready and raring to take on Megève’s most daring pistes.